"This is total nonsense and no more funny," Watzke told sports news agency SID.

Dzeko scored 85 goals during his time in Bundesliga, and has admitted that infrequent appearances for the Premier League champions could force him to look elsewhere for regular first-team football - despite being City’s top goalscorer this season with 13 goals in all competitions.

And Klopp, regardless of a large financial windfall from Dortmund’s run in the Champions League this term, insists a move for the striker, who cost City £27 million two years ago, would be infeasible for his club.